Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Government Moves on Thai Red Shirts

As the protests dragged on and the talks fizzled, it was inevitable that the Thai government would move more agressively to end the stalemate. According to this report in the N.Y. Times, the military has broken through the protesters' barricade in the commercial center of Bangkok.

The government has shown rather remarkable restraint up to this point. Still, many have been killed and injured. As well, the protests have had a substantial economic impact on the local economy. Businesses have been closed for weeks and the tourism industry has taken a major hit. Perhaps the protesters should have accepted the deal offered a week or so ago that would have shortened the time frame for parliamentary elections. One wonders what they will have to show for their efforts once the crackdown is complete.